Kape vs – Manel Kape will take on Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event of UFC Vegas 119 on June 20 in Las Vegas, seeking revenge after their past meeting.
A flyweight clash with unfinished business takes center stage as Misryoum reports that Manel Kape will headline UFC Vegas 119 against Kyoji Horiguchi on June 20 in Las Vegas.
Kape, ranked No. 2 in the flyweight division, faces No. 5 Horiguchi in the scheduled main event. The matchup also carries added emotion for Kape, who previously fought Horiguchi in 2017 under the Rizin Fighting Federation banner, with Horiguchi securing a submission victory via arm triangle.
That history matters because it frames this fight as more than just rankings. For Kape, the chance to even the score comes at a point where momentum is crucial, and for Horiguchi, it is an opportunity to keep climbing through the division’s upper tier.
Since making his UFC debut in 2021. Kape has compiled a strong stretch. winning seven of 10 fights and rolling through a run of consecutive victories over ranked opponents.. His recent wins include Bruno Silva. Asu Almabayev. and Brandon Royval. signaling he has continued to sharpen his standing as a contender.
Horiguchi, meanwhile, arrives with confidence from his current UFC form, having won both bouts in his second stint with the promotion. His latest performance was a unanimous decision victory over Amir Albazi in February, a result that helped keep him firmly in the flyweight conversation.
In a division where the margin between contenders can be thin, this pairing pits a fighter building momentum against an opponent proving he can perform consistently at UFC level. The outcome could ripple quickly through the title picture.
Misryoum also notes additional bouts on the UFC Vegas 119 card, including Bia Mesquita vs. Melissa Mullins at women’s bantamweight, Ion Cutelaba vs. Navajo Stirling at light heavyweight, Andre Lima vs. Kevin Borjas at flyweight, and Hyder Amil vs. Christian Rodriguez at featherweight.
For fans in Las Vegas and beyond, UFC Vegas 119 now looks like a night designed for stakes and style: a headliner rooted in revenge, backed by a card featuring multiple matchups across weight classes.
The biggest question going into June 20 is whether Kape can turn the lesson of the past into a path forward, or whether Horiguchi’s steadiness will be enough to withstand the pressure of a ranked main event.